Ferrari team principal Mattia Binotto has said he will endeavour to find Antonio Giovinazzi a seat in Formula 1 in 2023 following the Italian driver’s departure from Alfa Romeo this year.
Giovinazzi will race with Dragon Penske in Formula E next season, and it has recently been announced that he will take up a reserve role with Ferrari in 2022 – a role he will share with Haas driver Mick Schumacher.
Giovinazzi scored points on nine occasions in his three years in the sport before being released at the end of 2021.
Binotto has been keeping an eye on the contractual situation up and down the paddock and is hopeful of securing a seat for the 28-year-old.
“Our hope is to be able to find a seat for Antonio in the 2023 Formula 1 season. At the end of next season, the contracts of 11 drivers will expire and we think some opportunities may arise in this scenario,” said Binotto.
READ: Binotto reveals if Ferrari will have a number one driver in 2022
Giovinazzi, meanwhile, is extremely pleased with his new role next year, and maintains that being a reserve driver for the team is vital for his career.
“[It’s] really important to keep one foot in this paddock next year”, he said.
Having signed his first Ferrari contract at 23 years of age, Giovinazzi recognises the significance of being signed to an F1 team even if he is not a full-time driver.
“You have more power, for sure. For me, it’s really important to keep with Ferrari. They have more power and if you want to come back, it’s easier. I’ve been part of that family since 2017. Quite a lot of time now, five years.
“They were the team I signed a contract with at the end of 2016 after coming out of GP2. They were the family that give me the chance to go to F1 with Alfa Romeo in 2019, so they’ve been important for me.”
Giovinazzi finished 18th in the Drivers’ Standings last season, while his Alfa Romeo team ended the season ninth in the Constructors’ Standings.
Both himself and Kimi Raikkonen left the team at the end of the season, with Mercedes’ Valtteri Bottas and Formula 2 driver Guanyu Zhou replacing them for 2022.
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